Have you felt the stirrings of Uranus since it went direct on December 1 inspiring you to make changes in your life?

I certainly have. There are some that I have already implemented—for instance, enjoying a cup of ginger tea first thing in the morning—that have shifted the course of my day in a very enriching way. There are other changes, larger ones, that I am now pondering, those that may help align my life more closely to my heart’s intentions.

Reflecting this Uranian-inspired change, I’ve decided to try a new approach on Planetary Apothecary. When Uranus stationed retrograde this summer, I initiated the Astrological Insights, which I first posted to the Planetary Apothecary Facebook page and then later to the blog. Writing these has become a great source of fulfillment, reward, and creativity for me. And given the feedback I have received, it seems that you and other Readers find them enjoyable and beneficial.

Last week I had a Uranian “Aha!” moment regarding Planetary Apothecary: while it’s nice to post something each day, I realized that if I were to provide a week’s worth of Astrological Insights, it may be of greater service since you could have them days in advance if you wanted to use them as a means to reflect upon the upcoming week. Therefore, beginning today, I am going to compile 7 days of Astrological Insights into a once-weekly post, which will appear each Sunday (here’s a link to this week’s so you can see what it will look like).

I hope that this change serves you well. If you have any feedback on it, would like to offer suggestions on how this blog can better serve you, or want to share how Uranus going direct has inspired changes in your life, don’t hesitate to write me at stephanieATplanetaryapothecary.com or offer your thoughts in the Comments section.

Namaste.

PHOTO © ALEX CARRILLO

I’m hoping this day finds you calm and centered. But if you’re not, you’re not alone. There’s a lot stirring in the celestial worlds, which may be inciting feelings of movement and unfolding within. The energy of Uranus, the planet of revolutionary transformation, has been intense the past few days as it has been stationing (seemingly standing still). Today, at 12:27 pm PST it turns direct–it has been retrograde since July 1–and with that we may experience surges of out-of-the-blue notions and manifestations. It’s not that Uranus wants to catch us off guard for the fun of it, rather it’s to impart us with insights that help us go down a new path, the road less traveled, so that we can be a more full expression of who we truly are. As Uranus relates to chaos, some people feel a sense of tension when its energetic presence is strong; yet remember that disorder can be liberating as it helps to create a more freedom-inspiring sense of order.

In the afternoon, at 2:04 pm PST, Venus moves into the love-of-the-journey Sagittarius where she will reside for the next several weeks. Her foray into this meaning-questing sign resonates nicely with another astrological event of the day, that of the Sagittarius/Gemini Full Moon (for more on the Full Moon see this post).

I wish you a peaceful and enlightening day. Remember that growth often pulls us out of our perceived safety zone for a while yet it yields a life that is ultimately filled with a greater sense of peace and joy.

PHOTO © ALEX CARRILLO

December 1, 2009: Sagittarius/Gemini Full Moon (exact at 11:30 pm PST)

Today’s Full Moon graces us with the opportunity for wisdom and learning.  As we quest to become aware of the bigger picture, we can tap into facts and figures that can promote our greater understanding. At the same time, it’s important to remember that it’s not just information that contributes to a sense of knowingness. We all have a deep sense of intuition that can guide us in charting the course of our life journey; we just need to have the faith that this resides within us.

There may be a push-pull between stepping back to gain perspective and focusing in to hone the pieces that make up the whole. Striking a balance is important. Remember not to lose the forest for the trees, yet don’t forsake the trees for the forest either; both are equally important.

The energy around this Full Moon may seem a bit frenetic. This may spring forth because of the Moon’s position in mutable and restless Gemini, which encourages us to move about a lot as we seek stimuli to satisfy our curiousities. Additionally, Uranus goes direct today, inspiring out-of-the-blue insights and experiences that may pull us from the paths we may have set out to travel. Being flexible today and allowing ourselves to be open to the new avenues that may open up in front of us—ones we may not ever have considered—may provide us with great lessons.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 10 degrees of Sagittarius (Sun) and Gemini (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Sagittarius, Gemini, or the other mutable signs—Virgo and Pisces—it may impact you more intensely.

Full Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Sagittarius is associated with liver, hips, buttocks, thighs, and sciatic nerve while Gemini is associated with the shoulders, arms, lungs, and nervous system. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this Full Moon.

Meditation: We may feel a bit agitated during this Full Moon notably as the Moon is in restless Gemini and Uranus is turning direct today (in medical astrology, both Gemini and Uranus are related to the nervous system). Therefore, it’s especially fruitful to focus on centering our sense of calm. Meditation can be very helpful for this. As Gemini rules the nervous system, incorporating pranayama breathing exercises may be especially beneficial. Even if you don’t regularly meditate, try taking a few minutes to sit quietly and focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale as this can be a great exercise to quell nervous tension.

Lavender: Lavender is a great essential oil to help calm the nerves. The use of lavender to calm the nervous system is not only supported by traditional use but also by numerous research studies that have found it to have stress-relieving, attention-enhancing, and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. In addition, lavender also has powerful antibacterial properties. Carry a vial of lavender with you, inhaling its beautiful aroma whenever you need a sense of calm. Or add a few drops to a plain massage oil and apply as a fragrantly centering body moisturizer.